Indian Captain Arrested in UK: Indian Captain Held in UK Shadow Fleet Case as Wife Calls Him a Scapegoat
The wife of Indian captain Ajay Pant says he was only carrying out his employer’s instructions after British authorities detained him over alleged Russian oil sanctions violations.
Indian Captain Arrested in UK: Indian captain Ajay Pant, 38, has been arrested by British authorities after security forces boarded an oil tanker in the English Channel. The vessel, Smyrtos, is suspected by the UK of being linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
Pant was serving as the captain of the tanker when British Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers carried out the operation on June 14. The operation reportedly lasted around six hours, after which Pant was taken into custody.
The British authorities allege that the tanker was involved in the transportation of Russian oil in violation of sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The vessel was carrying around 98,000 tonnes of oil at the time of the operation.
Pant’s wife, Ritu Pant, has strongly defended him. Speaking about the case, she said her husband was only an employee and was responsible for following instructions from the vessel’s management. She questioned why he should be held responsible for the alleged violations.
According to the defence, a ship captain’s primary responsibility is to safely operate the vessel and deliver its cargo to the designated destination. His lawyers have disputed the suggestion that Pant personally controlled the nature or origin of the cargo.
British prosecutors, however, have argued that Pant was aware of the cargo being carried by the vessel and have accused him of involvement in the alleged sanctions violation. The legal proceedings will now determine the extent of his responsibility.
The tanker had been sailing under the flag of Cameroon and was reportedly travelling from Russia towards Egypt. British authorities later moved the vessel to a secure location off the southern coast of England.
Pant was produced before a UK court following his arrest. Bail was refused, meaning he remains in custody while the case proceeds. The charges could potentially lead to a lengthy prison sentence if he is eventually convicted.
The Indian government is also following the case. Officials from India’s external affairs authorities have obtained consular access and have been in contact regarding Pant’s situation.
For his family, the case has become a difficult wait. Ritu Pant continues to maintain that her husband did not knowingly commit any wrongdoing and has been caught up in a much larger dispute surrounding Russia, international oil shipments and Western sanctions.
